Fight For Me (Dark Renzetti Series Book 2) Page 6

  Especially not right now.

  Johnny drags my attacker over to the wall ten feet away and rips the ski mask off. I don’t recognize him at all but he doesn’t look like one of the Russians and the smeared blood is hard to see past. Movement from my left has me looking over in time to see Twitch stalking off like he suddenly has somewhere to be.

  I’m about to stop him, for all I know they could be in cahoots together, but Johnny’s voice pulls me back to the guy.

  “Who are you and why were you trying to get Silver?”

  The bloody faced man doesn’t say anything, he just looks between us with his lips folded inward. Johnny suddenly throws an uppercut which lands under the guy’s chin perfectly. My would-be-attacker begins panting, like he’s hyperventilating, as blood flows from his mouth. His teeth must’ve bit into his folded lips. Ouch.

  “Who the fuck sent you?” I yell at the piece of shit but instead of answering, he spits a glob of blood and saliva at me, but I anticipated the cliche so I sidestep in time.

  Twitch is suddenly there with a silver butterfly knife in one hand and a bottle of water in another. Pouring the latter on the attacker’s face, rinsing the blood off lets us finally see the face beneath it.

  He looks vaguely familiar but I can’t pinpoint where from, not until Twitch flips the knife out with a snarl and brings the point up to the guy’s throat.

  “Fucking Carlos. Did your uncle send you to do this?” Twitch is practically growling and the wild look in his eye is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. He looks possessed, like a manic without his medication but what makes my blood run cold the most is how calm he is. His eyes are like a wild fire on the loose but his demeanor is scary calm. Like the sociopath he’s been accused of being.

  “Who the fuck is his uncle and how do you know him?” Johnny asks, seeing the same thing I’m seeing.

  Twitch without his twitches is a dangerous motherfucker.

  “His uncle is Diego Blanca and I know him because he said some disrespectful things about Silver on the flight here so I laid the bastard out. Now tell me Carlos, did your uncle send you to attack Silver?”

  “Diego would never do that to me.” I say with confidence. That man is like a father to me and his daughter would kill him if he ever hurt me.

  “Besides, Diego has been a cartel boss for many years. He didn’t get all that power and hold it for so long by sending simpletons, like this moron, to do his dirty work. This has to be the Russians.” Johnny says as he pulls out his phone but I hold up my hand, stopping him. I know he’s going to call his father, a capo for the Renzettis, but we need to get all the answers first. If this guy really is a Blanca man, it could cause unnecessary trouble between the families.

  A guttural cry brings our focus back on Twitch and I see his blade is pushed deep in Carlos’ shoulder, blood soaking the man’s shirt as he screams. I don’t stop him though, I just watch in fascination as Twitch’s wickedly sexy smile lightens up the room even as his words are laced with black sin.

  “I never liked you Carlos. I didn’t get a chance to pull your teeth out like I wanted to but maybe now that you’re a fucking turncoat, your uncle will let me expel some of my demons, yeah?” He sounds excited like a kid about to go for ice cream. Twisted, I know, but I can’t help the fluttering in my chest. Giddy with excitement.

  “The Popovs came to me! They said they’d kill me if I didn’t do what they wanted. I swear, I swear to you- AHHH!”

  Twitch pulls out the knife as he stands. He searches through Carlos’ pockets until he pulls out a phone. I move closer, watching as he flips the phone open and scrolls through the contacts.

  Standing so close to Twitch I can’t help but smell his cologne and sweat. It makes my mind go fuzzy, like white noise on an old TV. His natural earthy fragrance is my new favorite smell.

  Wait, what? Ah, fuck it. It’s not like I’m going to tell anyone anyway.

  I inconspicuously inhale his addictive scent while he pulls up a number Carlos called seven times in the last hour. Twitch calls the number and puts it on mute, then clicks on the speaker. We listen as the line rings twice before a man’s heavily accented voice comes through.

  “Carlos, drug, did you finish the job?” Johnny, Twitch and I watch as Carlos practically passes out with fear when the guy on the phone uses the Russian word for friend. It’s not just the endearment that shows Carlos as a liar but it’s the tone the Russian used. He sounds like he’s speaking to an old friend and not someone who’s threatened his life.

  “I’m going to let you speak to him. Tell him it’s done but you better make it believable or I’ll open you up right here and now.” Carlos is already nodding before Twitch even finishes his sentence.

  Twitch unmutes the phone and holds it to Carlos’ face.

  “Aye, compadre! Yeah, it’s done. I trashed the car like you asked.”

  “What about the other problem? Did you have trouble getting rid of it?” I stiffen and stare at my fists trying to calm myself before I do something rash like announce that they’ll have to do a lot more than sending a hitman to get rid of me.

  “Si, she’s in the trunk of her car like you ordered.”

  The man on the phone laughs with real humor. “Moy drug, you’re funny, my friend. Thank you for offering your services. You’ll receive the deposit within the hour and I’ll see you tonight, when my daughter claims the Barbarity throne.” He hangs up before Carlos can say anything.

  Ruslan fucking Popov. King of the cowards.

  Johnny and Twitch begin beating the shit out of my would-be-assassin but my mind is traveling. They think they’ve gotten an easy win tonight, as if my death would mean Mila could just step in and take my place, fill my shoes.

  Ha! That would never happen, even if I had died.

  Tonight, I’m going to show up and surprise the hell out of these sniveling little snakes and I know the best way to do it.

  “Stop. I want Carlos alive. He’s going to announce my name tonight.”

  Letting the scumbag live was hard to do but when Silver looked at me with those beautifully cold blue eyes, I couldn’t help but listen. The only other time I see darkness in a set of eyes is when I look in the mirror.

  Vicious. Black. Untamed.

  Along with her undeniable beauty, there’s a bit of depravity that calls to me on a level unlike anything else. Like me, she doesn’t bother to wear a mask to cover it up. She’s unashamed and unafraid to show society that a savage soul walks among them with pride.

  My heart beats faster watching her command the room without uttering a word. It’s not something you see everyday and I can almost guarantee she’s never found her equal in a man. I don’t think any average Joe can stand next to her without looking weak.

  “Thank you for that,” Silver says when she notices me staring.

  I can’t help but to watch her and I don’t bother trying to hide the fact that I was either. I know my stare makes her uneasy but judging by the way she bites that plump bottom lip, I don’t think it’s because she doesn’t like it. I think she’s unused to the feelings I know I’m stirring in her though. I don’t say that in an arrogant way, I only say this because this is exactly how I’m feeling. Unsure and confused by the undeniable spark between us. She’s not the bubbly, gushing groupie I’m used to. She’s not throwing herself at me or batting her thick lashes at me either. Contrary to that, actually. I know she is annoyed by me and the feelings I evoke in her. She’s trying to look unaffected but it didn’t slip past me when she inhaled my scent a few moments ago. I noticed too when she melted in my arms after I pulled her off of Carlos.

  She isn’t fooling me with the I can’t stand you vibe she’s trying to give off.

  Her eyes may be icy blue but those expressive orbs are devoid of soft light. Don’t get it wrong—they’re bright and filled with life but on a level only broken souls understand. The light within them is hard and sharp like double edged blades that’l
l cut layers off of anyone who looks too deeply. It’s like our shadows speak to each other in a language of pain and vengeance.

  Reluctantly, I turn from her to grab my towel and water bottle, pouring the latter over my head to cool me off.

  This girl.

  I mentally shake myself out of these thoughts. She’s unattainable and that’s fine. I need to stay focused on my fight tonight then I need to focus on finding information on my sister.

  “Yeah. Maybe you should invest in some bodyguards or get better ones. I won’t always be there to protect the damsel.”

  Was that shitty? Yes, but I meant for it to sting. I don’t need her beautiful distractions. I shouldn’t have been surprised when it had the opposite effect though.

  Silver steps closer to me and leans sideways to get my eyes on hers. “Don’t get it twisted, beach boy, I’m never a damsel.”

  My lip curls at her insult but watching her show dominance is one hell of a turn on. She drags her icy eyes down my body before bringing them back to mine; hardness showing within the orbs .

  “I’ll let it slide this one time, you’re new here after all. A little advice though? Learn your place before you’re put in your place.” She continues staring at me, like a snake that’s about to strike.

  Only it’s me who strikes.

  I lean forward until she’s backed up against the side of the boxing ring, where I put my hands up on either side of her head, holding onto the ropes. She’s got my tourette’s acting stronger than usual. My shoulder rises and falls quickly and my fucking eyes squeeze shut for a split second. I’ve never dealt with tics this badly before but I’ve also never dealt with this irritatingly gorgeous woman before either.

  I stop moving closer when my nose touches hers and a drop of water from my hair lands on her cheek. I watch the drop roll down to the corner of her pouty maroon lips before bringing my eyes back up to hers.

  “Don’t ever threaten me, doll. I may sound like a surfer but the only time I’ll let you call me that is when I’m diving face first into that wet pussy of yours, got it?” My words are spoken softly but the goosebumps along her shoulders tell me she felt them everywhere.

  Before I can stop myself or think, I quickly flick her top lip with the tip of my tongue. I push off and away from her, fully expecting her to swing at me and she doesn’t let me down.

  Sliver shakes the shock from her features and grabs my left wrist with her right hand before turning her hips toward me and swinging her left elbow at my face. I dodge it—just barely, though.

  I twist the wrist she’s gripping and grip onto her arm, quickly placing my other hand at her shoulder, forcing her back to fall to the floor.

  Silver won’t be brought to heel easily and though I can easily break her wrist, I have a feeling she’d keep going and leave her own broken marks on my as well. With her on her back and me squatting next to her, she brings her leg up before trying to wrap it around my neck. As much as I’d enjoy having my face between her legs, I’d much rather her not strain, pull, or break something before our fights so I let her go and push her legs away from me.

  She gets to her feet and breaths heavily as she watches my movements. I tilt my head to the side and smirk at this firecracker before me. She’s got spunk most girls wish they had.

  “I don’t want you to break a nail before your big show tonight, damsel.”

  She rolls her eyes and flips me off before stalking off, in the wrong direction. I stand there and watch her try to play it off but there’s literally nothing in that direction so she reluctantly turns back around and rushes past me and shoulder checks me.

  I burst out laughing when she does the same to Johnny who is clearly holding in his laughter. I guess he saw the power fight just now.

  I shake my head, gathering up my stuff and exit the building. I didn’t think the underground fighting chief would be such an unwelcome distraction. Sure, I saw how attractive she was but attractive girls are everywhere. Why was this girl with a bullheaded attitude and smart mouth affecting me so much?

  Doesn’t matter. She doesn’t matter.

  Spotting the Land Rover, I walk over to it and push all thoughts of Silver to the back of my head. Not completely though. Silver is not someone easily forgotten and the old phrase, out of sight, out of mind, doesn’t work when it comes to her.

  I glance back as I climb into the SUV and catch her watching me with a look of irritation and confusion. I chuckle as we take off from 5th Round but Gabe is blasting Eazy-E’s ‘Real Muthaphuckkin G’s’ so he doesn’t hear me.

  Vibing to the music I mentally put myself in the zone for the fight.

  I got a title to win and some money to make.

  I sneak into Barbarity through the back entrance wearing a white wig and large Gucci sunglasses so that everyone will assume I’m Jefa. It works well, too. Getting into my small yet private gym, I begin doing warm ups. Nothing major, just a few sets of punching bag sit-ups, push-ups, jump rope and other basic workouts. I need to expel some of this energy so I can keep a level head later.

  I’ve never been so pumped for a fight before but finding out Popov was responsible for sending an attacker to kill me? Yeah, I’m fucking ready. I’m not only looking to win a fight, I’m looking for blood. I want Mila’s fucking head on a silver platter. I want to impale the bitch and leave her as an example to anyone who thinks they're strong enough to take me out. Tonight I’m going to make sure the mafiosos of my world know that the Popovs are a family led by a coward and his daughter will be the first to pay for his foolish choice.

  I stop my routine when the door opens and Johnny comes through.

  “Parla con me fratello, speak to me brother. Is everything set up for my surprise introduction tonight?” Johnny made sure that everyone who works for me would act as though they haven't seen me.

  My fight will be the last one of the night so I want everyone to think I didn’t show up. That I punked out from a fight with this broad.

  “The enforcers are all ready to take Ruslan, and the Renzetti brothers have been alerted to the attack. My dad wants to take Popov now but he’s standing back to let you handle it how you want but as soon as the fight is over, he wants Popov out of Barbarity territory to make sure he can enact the disciplinare.” Disciplinary. An act that must have the blessing of the head Cosa Nostra family, the Renzettis. In this case, the crime was committed against me, therefore it was committed against Andino ‘Hangman Renzetti because I am under his Capo.

  Looks like war will be declared tonight.

  “Okay good. Get your gear so we can spar,” I tell him before taking a drink from my water bottle. Johnny’s chuckling has me confused though. “What the fuck are you giggling for?”

  He barks out another round of laughter before answering. “I’m not giggling, you twat. I’m just thinking about how your face looked when Twitch had you blushing like a nun earlier.” He exaggerates how I looked, mouth hanging wide eyes crossed like a fool. I throw my water bottle, nailing him right on the forehead. The combination of the way he was mocking me and the surprise of the water bottle hitting him, his face had me dying. I can’t stop the laughter from spilling. I’m laughing so hard that my stomach hurts and I don’t see him coming at me.

  Johnny grabs me from around the waist and tosses me over his shoulder but I know what he’s going to do. This is his M.O as my trainer. Surprise attacks. It keeps me sharp and ready at all times. His tactic during training helped me with my attack earlier because if I hadn’t been trained to expect the unexpected, I would have gotten hurt or worse.

  Before Johnny can spin around and slam me down on the mat, I lift up enough to hammer-fist him as hard as I can where his shoulder and neck meet. He lets me go but I keep my hands around his neck and as soon as my feet touch the mat I pull my knee back before bringing it forward to slam into his stomach, but he sees it coming and blocks.

  Pulling out of the hold I have on his neck he says, “Alright, that�
��s enough. You need to save your energy.” He walks over to the mini fridge to get some water just as Jefa walks in. I haven’t told her about the attack yet so she’s completely oblivious to my tension and anxiousness.

  “I didn’t know you were here yet, Sil. I didn’t see your car parked outside.” She drops her bags and pulls out everything she needs to clean up any wounds on me later. I trust no one to doctor me, I guess I’m like my mom in that way.

  Jefa usually cleans me and Johnny up after our fights so she’ll probably be cleaning Twitch later as well, now that he’s fighting for her pops.

  Ignoring the surge of jealousy that hits me at the thought of her hands on him, I tell her about the attack and the destruction of my car.

  “What the hell, Silver! Why didn’t you call me? Where is Carlos now? I want to have a moment with him.” Her lovely face has turned a violent shade of red, she’s so pissed.

  The only time she gets like this is when someone disrespects her family. It makes me truly grateful to have her as my best friend. She’s wild and crazy, known as Jefa La Loca, she’s a stand up bitch. For the past few years Jefa has been living here in New York so that she could be the front boss for the Blanca Cartel. She runs Diego’s businesses here while he keeps to La Paz so technically I should have told her about the attack right away since Carlos is one of her men but I want to do things my way.

  “I didn’t tell you, Jefa, because it was under control. Plus, I want to make a show of it. Tonight, the Popov family thinks they’ve won. They think I’m rotting in my mother’s trunk right now, so let’s keep it that way. When these pezzi di merda,” Pieces of shit. “are ready to claim the throne here, I’ll make it known what the fuck I’m about—starting with Mila. Today the Popovs declared war, so tonight the first casualty will happen. Mila won’t be leaving here alive.”

  The fights have been going on all evening and since these men and women are the best my ring has to offer, most of the fights run long. The fighters who are unwilling to tap out have led to a few T.K.Os but it’s also led to a ferocious crowd. My kind of audience. Perfect for feeding the feral fighters, including myself.